Mental Health

Blog posts relating to mental health subjects

Blog tag posts, Mindset change

Mummy & mental health blogger with an overhauled perspective on life

, 14 Comments

An overhauled perspective on all things in life. What better way to celebrate this, than writing this tag post!

Being unapologetically you is all about sharing the things that make you happy and help you become a better person. Never be afraid to be you. 

Izzy Matias started the Be Unapologetically You blogging tag. It’s a celebration of what you love without being shy or ashamed about it! 

Almost six months since starting the blog, I am a bit more comfortable with revealing other details about my life and it feels great to open up about the aspects of life I love.

Quick note: Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for you.

How does the tag work?

Be Unapologetically You Tag Rules: 

1. Use the Be Unapologetically You banner in your post. It can be your featured image or not. It’s totally up to you. 

2. Include the link to this blogging tag (https://www.izzymatias.com/be-unapologetically-you) in your post. 

3. Answer the 7 questions in this tag. 

4. Nominate between 5-10 bloggers, link to their blogs, and tag them on social media to notify them. 

5. Most of all, have fun!

Reminder: you don’t need to include the “Be Unapologetically You Tag” in your blog post title if you don’t want to. 

overhauled perspective

Be Unapologetically You Questions: 

  1. Introduce yourself and your blog while sharing one trivia about you that not that many people know. 
  2. What topics do you love geeking out about that you would say are topics that give you bliss? 
  3. Do you blog about them? Why or why not? If not, would you like to blog about them one time? 
  4. Would you say that you are living life by being unapologetically you? Why or why not? If not, what would your life look like if you were unafraid to share more about the things that make you happy? 
  5. Permission to geek out & be unapologetically you: share with us one thing you fangirl or fanboy over and how you became a fan of it. It can be anything. Your love for soy candles, your favorite food, a boy band or an underrated film.
  6. What do you love the most about being a fan? 
  7. Share a fun or unforgettable fan experience. 

Before we get into the questions, I wanted to say this tag is perfect for me at this moment in time. Following a mental breakdown and redundancy from my job of almost 10 years, I have an overhauled perspective on life. I feel like a new person, with a fresh outlook. And I intend to make the most of this transformation and finally create the life I want to live.

Let’s dive into the questions

Introduce yourself and your blog while sharing one trivia about you that not that many people know. 

I’m a mummy to a feisty toddler and a wife, living in the North of England, UK, and making it a priority to enjoy life.

Following my recent breakdown, I believe talking about our mental health struggles is key to recovery. My blog focuses on parenting and mental health, but I also explore other lifestyle topics.

Something people may not know about me, is I eat raw potatoes and I mentioned it in one of my other tag posts. I don’t know where it came from, but I still love them to this day. Although I can’t eat too many, because I don’t think the starch is very good for you.

What topics do you love geeking out about that you would say are topics that give you bliss? 

In keeping with the trend of being unapologetically you, I have to talk about my love of gaming. I always thought it was just my hubby who was the geek. However, I am starting to realise it’s also me who loves geeky games. I think it comes from playing these with my dad and brother when we were younger. We have a Sega console and I love playing the old games and feeling a sense of nostalgia.

These days, I also love playing games on my phone as a way to destress. With a job search underway, a tempremental toddler and generally busy life, I need moments to decompress and a task I can easily dip in and out of.

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    Do you blog about them? Why or why not? If not, would you like to blog about them one time? 

    When I first started the blog, I didn’t initially talk about these subjects. Almost six months since starting the blog, I am a bit more comfortable with revealing other details about my life and it feels great to open up about the aspects of life I love.

    As the title of this post suggests, I have an overhauled perspective on life. It is inevitable when you go through life changing events.

    Stay tuned to the blog for more on my mental health journey and my life adventures, whilst I go through this transition period. My second blog will be launching in the next few weeks and a third one in the next few months. I also plan on doing some freelance writing. The hope is I will gradually feel comfortable sharing more about my life.

    Would you say that you are living life by being unapologetically you? Why or why not? If not, what would your life look like if you were unafraid to share more about the things that make you happy? 

    I am getting better at being more open. Simply because I realise this makes you more authentic and in turn, happier. Discussing my honest thoughts on the blog was the pivotal factor that aided my recovery from a mental health breakdown. I am so over hiding my true self. Whilst I will probably always keep some things private, there is a lot to be said about opening up.

    I do have more work to do in this area though. I hid my anxiety from everyone for 15 years. Therefore I am at the beginning of my opening up journey and it is all new to me.

    overhauled perspective

    Permission to geek out & be unapologetically you: share with us one thing you fangirl or fanboy over and how you became a fan of it. It can be anything. Your love for soy candles, your favorite food, a boy band or an underrated film

    I am a sucker for a candle or wax melt. Gone are the days I used to spend £50.00 in the Yankee candle shop on my lunchtime at work. These days I am all about deals, supermarket candles, and melts seem to be cheaper.

    But yes, I have a great love of candles. If you’re looking for some cheap, but lovely smelling candles, I suggest checking out the range at Wilko. I use their tea lights and jar candles, because they smell amazing, but they are also affordable.

    What do you love the most about being a fan? 

    The candle business is huge in the UK, but having them dotted around the house brings a sense of calm. It wasn’t until my breakdown I relaised how important these touches are. A relaxing bath and a candle literally helped to get me out of bed and start the day. Granted, it didn’t solve all my problems. A combination of factors did and this includes medication. However, self-care is a vital part of recovery.

    I just love my passion for them because I know it aids my need to keep up self-care. And I always welcome a sense of calm in the house.

    Sign up for my freebie library. Each week there will be a new freebie added to help organise your life and take away some stress!

    I want the freebies
    overhauled perspective

    Share a fun or unforgettable fan experience

    When I previously had my lunchtime candle spending sprees. And spent all the extra money I was earning in the name of stress, I regularly purchased some cute Yankee candle Votive holders (these were also cheap to buy compared with the jar candles). One night, me and my now hubby were chilling and it broke due to increased heat. A bit of the jar cracked and popped across the room and we are lucky it didn’t hit anyone. I am always careful to this day, ensuring the wick isn’t resting on one side of the jar.

    It was my favorites candle holder as well, hehe!!

    I nominate…

    Real Life of LuLu

    Lisa Marie

    Ladybossnomad

    Pinecanvasblog

    DatingBitch

    Final thoughts

    I hope you enjoyed reading this post.

    Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. I would love to hear from you.

    signature overhauled perspective
    Mental Health, Pregnancy

    You are a great parent despite a confirmed diagnosis of bipolar disorder

    , 15 Comments

    Guest post – I am absolutely honoured to have Lou Farrell guest post on my blog. Please check out her blog, Mentriz.

    I would like to thank her for this honest post. I loved reading it and I am happy she managed to get through such a tough time.

    great parent

    So if you are a mother diagnosed with bipolar, be proud of what you have achieved. You are fighting many battles on different levels and overcoming them; this is a very proud moment indeed.

    How the birth of my baby set in motion my mental health diagnosis

    My labour started with my cat. The feisty mini beast jumped out on me while I was hanging the washing out and attacked my ankle with her usual vigour. I bent down to shoo her away and went back indoors, whereby my waters broke and my story of being a mother with bipolar begins.

    I would like to say my labour went smoothly. But they mucked up my epidural, and it went into the wrong spot on my spine and caused fluid loss. My son was in the wrong position, and I was also sick with the gas and air. Things were going wrong. I was in such pain and agony from the botched epidural, they had to anaesthetise me fully.

    When I woke up, I saw my son in the arms of my mother, and I named him there and then, to the shock of my partner, but hey, I was woozy. Thankfully he liked the name. It was a name we had never discussed, but when I woke up, it just seemed to be who my baby resembled.

    Back to hospital


    After a few days, I was out of the hospital with an atrocious headache; I couldn’t shake it, but I put it down to all the hormones leaving my body, and I started to learn how to be a mother. But the following day, my headache was terrible, and I couldn’t move my neck. I was taken to hospital. After a few hours, it was diagnosed that I had a hole in my spine from the epidural, and I was leaking spinal fluid. They would need to transfuse my blood into the hole.

    I was in so much pain I stayed in the hospital for a few days, and when I came out, I felt as though the first few days of my son’s life had been stolen from me. It turns out this thought never truly left me it metamorphosised into something much grander much more manic.

    I hope sharing my story helps another woman realise, being diagnosed with bipolar after having children is not the end of your parenting life. It is about learning new ways of doing things and adapting to your needs as an individual and those of your children

    The lead up to diagnosis

    As the days passed, I became more and more depressed, I went to my doctor, and he said I had postpartum depression. I wasn’t surprised, given the rough ride I had had over the past few weeks, but I was determined to be strong, and I would take antidepressants so I could be a good mum.

    Another few weeks of motherhood went by, my depression never lifted. It became worse, and I started believing some bizarre things. The overriding thought and belief were my son was, in fact, my mothers. It was so real to me, yet utterly ludicrous. But at the time, I believed it. It would play on my mind that I was looking after my brother, not my son, but my baby brother.

    I ventured to the shops one day and left my son with his dad. I had never voiced my thoughts to him; he was completely unaware. But the feeling was just intensifying even more so. As I approached the shop, I walked past it and walked towards the seafront. When I reached the sea, thank goodness the tide was out, and it was just mudflats because I had been meaning to throw myself in and let nature take its course.

    Read my other mental health related posts

    Mental Health related blog posts
    An open letter to my anxiety

    Being admitted to the mental health unit


    I returned home and burst into tears; the rest of the day was a blur. I don’t know how I ended up in the hospital. I’ve no idea how I got there, but here I was again, separated from my son and in the hospital again. But this time it was in the mental health unit.

    My delusions were called puerperal psychosis, and it is a rare form of postpartum depression. It was then I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder too. I don’t go in for things lightly.

    I spent many weeks in hospital, and my son changed from newborn to chubby cheeks, and I have to be forever thankful to my partner who looked after him so well. I can’t remember much about my time in hospital. It was unfortunate that I could not go to the mother and baby unit, but they only had limited spaces, and they were full. Which made me think how many other mums have mental illnesses after the birth of their child?

    Once I returned home, I was pretty much useless. Great at play but not good with the routine side of things due to the powerful medication I was taking. My delusion had gone, but even now, nearly twenty years later, the memory of that delusion is so very real; it is the same as any other memory, very peculiar.

    great parent

    Where am I now?


    My son is now nineteen, and although I separated from his father when he was about six, I have brought him up on my own for the past thirteen years. I have had many blips along the way, but I have a good support group around me, which is crucial when managing your mental health. You can be a great parent with a mental illness.

    Yes, you can still be a good mother with bipolar. There may be an odd flare-up along the way, but bipolar can be managed. If you follow the doctor’s instructions, even if you feel a bit crap on the medication, you can thrive as a parent.

    I hope sharing my story helps another woman realise, being diagnosed with bipolar after having children is not the end of your parenting life. It is about learning new ways of doing things and adapting to your needs as an individual and those of your children. As I said, the key is to make sure you have a good support network around you, as, without this, it would be tough for anyone, let alone someone with mental health issues.

    Motherhood changes you, regardless of whether you have mental health issues. But if you have, it becomes doubly tricky but even more rewarding, I believe. As you have to jump through more hoops than you could ever possibly think existed, this makes you stronger in the end.

    So if you are a mother diagnosed with bipolar, be proud of what you have achieved. You are fighting many battles on different levels and overcoming them; this is a very proud moment indeed.

    All the details you need to find out more about Lou

    great parent

    Lou Farrell is a writer on mental health and wellbeing; she runs a website called Mentriz, which talks about a wide range of issues from mental illness to natural remedies and positive affirmations. She writes a lot about bipolar disorder and depression as she believes in speaking from experience.

    Mental Health

    Why I decided to participate in the #JoinIn Twitter hashtag

    , 4 Comments

    Firstly, I should make it clear I am writing this mainly because I want more people to be aware the #JoinIn Twitter hashtag exists. It’s important people know there is someone out there to support them. Even if it isn’t possible to do this face to face right now.

    I previously volunteered for a befriending service and did home visits with an elderly person. But the service also offered much-needed telephone conversations. As you can imagine, this could mean the world to a lonely older person. Therefore, I’m aware of how valuable this contact can be.

    To clarify, this isn’t about me being a hero or superior to anyone else. I truly believe we are all muddling through life. Any one of us could be lonely one day, or find ourselves in the depths of depression during the Christmas period. If everyone could understand this, or always try to lead with a kind heart, I don’t think the stigma surrounding mental health would be as bad as it is. 

    #JoinIn Twitter hashtag

    What happened on Christmas morning?

    All I can tell you is, I felt compelled to support others on Christmas Day. And the #JoinIn Twitter hashtag was my way of doing it.

    I will be honest and say when I first saw the campaign in the lead-up to Christmas, I was dubious about committing. The only reason for my reluctance was self-preservation. I’ve learned to look after myself first. I obviously also want to help others and it’s the reason I started my blog. But how can I help others without preserving my mental strength?

    Despite my reluctance, something happened on Christmas morning which made me feel I needed to participate. I looked at our little family and I felt grateful. Lucky to be seeing my parents and finally getting to teach my toddler about Santa. 

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      Giving back

      I genuinely loved interacting under the #JoinIn Twitter hashtag on Christmas Day. I still had quality time with my family, but I was also proud to give something back. The Twitter community helped me out of a dark place. To recover from a mental breakdown.

      In a similar way to my blogging journey, this then made me think of all the people who wouldn’t have this luxury. We couldn’t see some family members because of a positive covid test. Therefore I was all too aware some people might just be isolated this year to avoid spreading the virus. 

      These selfless, kind people needed someone to connect with. To clarify, this isn’t about me being a hero or superior to anyone else. I truly believe we are all muddling through life. Any one of us could be lonely one day, or find ourselves in the depths of depression during the Christmas period. If everyone could understand this, or always try to lead with a kind heart, I don’t think the stigma surrounding mental health would be as bad as it is. 

      I’ve found receiving and giving the following to others really does help to transform your life. 

      Compassion 

      Gratitude 

      Kindness 

      Support 

      Empathy 

      Love 

      Hugs 

      Understanding

      I wish everyone would show more of these qualities. The world would be a better place.

      #JoinIn Twitter hashtag

      For anyone who needs it right now, feel free to sign up to my freebie library and download the self-care checklist

      self care checklist
      I want the checklist

      How it all started

      Sarah Millican is an amazing human being for starting the #JoinIn Twitter hashtag and also taking time out of her Christmas day to chat with everyone. I honestly think it’s so lovely. Through her shows, she also raised an amazing amount of money for Mind. A charity doing amazing work to support those with mental health problems.

      When confronting my own mental health issues in the past, I’ve always found therapy helped. Something about talking to a stranger means you lower your guard and can often be more honest. I truly think the same concept works online. I’ve sometimes felt more supported by strangers online than people close to me.

      My wish and the reason I am writing this

      I want to spread the word to everyone. this support exists on Twitter. I would like the chat to continue and I know there are some people who want to do this.

      The main thing we all need to be aware of is there is someone there to talk if you feel you need it. And that is priceless. It warmed my heart to see the exchange of kind messages!

      Final thoughts

      Please come and chat with me in the comments below and let me know what you think of the #JoinIn Twitter hashtag.

      I would love to hear from you.

      mummy conquering anxiety

      Mindset change

      Why you should sign up for the 6 week Self-Image Overhaul

      , 2 Comments

      AFF – Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for you.

      It’s no secret I’ve had a turbulent year. However, I am pleased to confirm I am almost done with the main factor which was weighing me down, and I intend to update you more on this in January 2021.

      If you feel the same, the 6 week Self-Image Overhaul could be for you.

      6 week Self-Image Overhaul

      How did I recover from my breakdown

      I will be honest and say I am a different person now and I am still not fully healed. I will feel a lot better when the thing weighing me down is over and done with.

      These are the techniques I used

      Self-care

      Medication

      Naps and resting when I needed to

      A huge mindset change is the main factor that saw me through the dark days. Each day I work hard to not let anxiety creep in and some days I still fail. But that’s okay!

      An opportunity to change things

      I was given an opportunity to change my life because I literally hit rock bottom. But I also know there are amazing coaches out there who can unlock your full potential and help you change your life for the better.

      Personally, as a result of a mindset change, I feel refreshed, confident, like I’ve ditched the dead weight and I am hopeful and optimistic about the future. Something I haven’t felt for 15 years.

      AFF – 6 week Self-Image Overhaul

      Check out this amazing course, run by Andrea Hunt. One day left to enroll in the course.

      You can click on the link for more details and sign up, but this is the general overview:

      Take an honest audit of your life and create your intentions and your WHY in 6 areas

      Align your true values with your life vision to get clear on your purpose and where’s it’s missing in your life

      Take control of your internal dialogue + self-talk – where you sabotage and how to quiet that mean little voice inside

      Stop hating your body – creating compassion and love for better self-love and health

      Figure out your emotional needs so you can meet them and create better boundaries

      Creating the success mindset, embodying a better you and creating long term sustainability!

      Final thoughts

      Let me know your thoughts on this amazing opportunity to change your life.

      Are you signing up for the 6 week Self-Image Overhaul?

      I would love to hear from you…

      Sign up now
      6 week Self-Image Overhaul
      Mental Health

      The secret of how an anxiety-prone person manages a new blog

      , 22 Comments

      If things go wrong, like me losing my whole website one day, I panic. I am pre-dispositioned to act like this. Whilst my anxiety will never go away, I can put tools in place to manage it. I now have to find ways to balance the blog and my anxiety levels.

      The excitement of starting a blog means I wanted everything to be perfect and I was eager to upload several posts and progress the blog as quickly as I could.

      Pick your battles and only trade your energy where you believe it is worthy.

      Like other young families, I have some time management issues. Working around childcare, having a messy hubby, housework, learning a million new things at once, I have struggled with also fitting in self-care. In my free moments, I’m always asking myself whether I should work on the blog instead of resting. I need to remember that I’m still in a recovery period following a mental breakdown, and whilst writing for this blog and speaking out about mental health is helping me, it’s about taking it one day at a time.

      It’s lovely to be part of the mental health blogging community. Having like-minded people who know how you feel is amazing, so thanks to everyone who offers me support on a daily basis. Becoming a blogger is the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time.

      Tips on how I am currently managing my anxiety levels

      Naps

      I know I talk a lot about naps on the blog, but they do so much good. My anxiety is worse when I’m tired and therefore I must take time to rest if I don’t want other areas of my life to get out of control.

      Brushing off the insignificant things

      Naturally, when you suffer a mental breakdown and are going through redundancy, you identify the things in life that simply don’t matter. And you train yourself to not care or use your precious energy on this particular thing in life. Pick your battles and only trade your energy where you believe it is worthy.

      Medication

      I am still taking anti-depressants and intend to continue doing so for as long as I need them. There is no shame in this, despite the stigma still surrounding the issue.

      Without medication, I wouldn’t have been able to get to a place where I could start recovery or let myself heal. Think about a pot on your broken arm or pain medication whilst a sprained ankle is healing. You wouldn’t be able to even begin the healing journey without these measures. Mental health is no different. My hope is that by speaking out, the perception will change.

      Not stessing out about things outside my control

      I’ve come to realise there are more factors outside our control in our lives than the ones we can do something about. I previously worried about other people and changing things. I don’t anymore.

      It’s sometimes easier said than done and I will be honest, at the moment I still have the same reaction to difficult life circumstances. The difference now is, I stop to think about whether it’s the correct reaction and I evaluate this before proceeding.

      blog and my anxiety levels

      Organising things inside my control

      Before pregnancy, when everything kind of fell apart, I had standing orders set up to make bill payments and I was super organised. I am now trying to find some sort of middle-ground. In this middle-ground, the automatic stuff like money, shopping lists, meal planning is taken care of. This leaves time for the more enjoyable elements of life.

      I am still working on the plan and hope to have it resolved soon. My family and I can then look forward to a bright future and concentrate on living life.

      Working on the blog when it suits me

      To clarify, I work at least 3-4 hours daily on the blog, and during the first three months, it was a lot more. Because I have a little one to entertain during the day, I usually work early in the mornings and late at night.

      The point here is, I am free to do special things with the little one during the day. We have just started visiting soft play areas and going swimming regularly. This is the reason I would like to turn my blogging passion into a full-time job, eventually. I can then achieve my dream of finally having a work-life balance.

      Vowing to never return to what caused my stress in the first place

      Long work hours

      Pressure to hit targets

      The office environment

      Significant travel time to work

      All the above are things I can control and make adjustments to in my life. I now have the confidence to achieve a future job role or self-employed status which means I don’t have to put myself through this anymore.

      For me, any of these factors may cause me to get to breaking point again. It’s now about creating a happy, healthy future and avoiding the impact on my mental health.

      Final thoughts

      I hope this post has given you some insight on why I started the blog in the first place and how I am managing all elements of life with very little time.

      I know these issues impact many families. I would love to hear from you in the comments below. You are not alone.

      signature blog and my anxiety levels

      Mental Health, Round-up posts

      A roundup of my mental health-related posts so far

      , 13 Comments

      I thought it was time to share my mental health-related posts so far.

      As I started this blog due to a decline in my mental health and because I wanted to help other people. I thought it was a good time to reflect on the mental health-related topics I have covered so far.

      mental health-related posts so far

      August 2021

      I released my first post on 12 August 2021. Obviously, a lot of work went on behind the scenes prior to this date. These were the mental health-related posts I released during August 2021:

      Mental Health

      7 crucial steps I took to gradually recover from my breakdown

      34
      Tools for managing anxiety

      Breathe Bracelets – 10 breaths bracelet

      12

      September 2021

      This was my first full month of blogging, where I really found my feet. I worked very hard to spread the word about my blog.

      Gifting self-care Tools for managing anxiety wellness

      You must check out this self-heating eye mask for relaxation

      18

      October 2021

      The month of #blogtober. I decided to take on the challenge. These are the posts I released during the month, which were related to mental health.

      Mental Health

      What You Need in Your Home as You Get Older For Peace of Mind

      0

      World Mental Health day 2021

      World Mental Health Day 2021

      The stark truth about my last anxiety-filled day and exactly what it felt like

      8
      World Mental Health Day 2021

      Why it’s vital to understand the workplace conditions which led to my breakdown

      18
      World Mental Health Day 2021

      5 vital tools to prevent seasonal affective disorder during the cold months of the year

      18
      World Mental Health Day 2021

      How relaxing our routine transformed our lives

      19
      World Mental Health Day 2021

      An open letter to my anxiety

      60
      World Mental Health Day 2021

      How I plan to transform after years of being ruled by fear

      27

      Final thoughts

      I still feel incredibly privileged to be speaking about my journey and receiving feedback about the fact this is helping other people. It makes my heart smile.

      I’ve saved some of the amazing feedback I’ve received. The reason for saving it is because I feel overjoyed at the incredible support I’ve received from the blogging community. THANK YOU, FELLOW BLOGGERS.

      Honestly, the Twitter blogging community have kept me going during tough times and I am thankful to be part of such an amazing group of people. Shall we share some more love??

      mental health-related posts so far
      mental health-related posts so far
      mental health-related posts so far
      mental health-related posts so far
      mental health-related posts so far

      Thank you for coming on this journey with me

      signature mental health-related posts so far
      Mental Health

      Why I’m glad the negative aspects of office culture will be left behind

      , 8 Comments

      I am discussing the negative aspects of office culture today because I spent most of my career in an environment which for most of those years was friendly, inviting, and accommodating. At times, it was also hectic, stressful, and sometimes negative. The negative aspects certainly took a toll on my mental health.

      Naturally, when redundancies are announced, the lead-up to this happening, usually means staff don’t experience the same support they once did and there is a negative vibe. Even if this just stems from a feeling that something is not quite right.

      I hear all too frequently about managers getting away with treating staff poorly and I’m hoping this is something that will change. 

      The pandemic and how this impacted negative aspects of office culture

      The pandemic certainly made us all stop, take stock of our lives and assess the important aspects. We were literally forced to do this because we couldn’t go anywhere. Those who had thrown themselves into work and other distractions were suddenly forced to spend time at home. Family time was essentially forced upon us and I personally came out the other side thinking it wasn’t such a bad thing.

      Whilst I’m sure everyone has had a completely unique experience, there is no denying we’ve all had some thinking time to assess our priorities. 

      Regardless of the impending redundancy, I look back on these toxic workplace traits as something I just could never allow into my life again. As an introvert and empath with high anxiety levels, I will be looking for a future job role that involves helping people, a charity, a small business and will probably never want to work for a large company ever again. Unless they are amazing (side note – I’ve seen pictures on Linkedin where some big companies are giving wonderful goodie bags to new starters – I think I’ve been in the wrong job!).

      Continue reading for a list of the main toxic traits I witnessed in the workplace…

      Buzzing around like the world was going to end 

      This is top of my list for negative aspects of office culture. I don’t know if our managers just didn’t have a clue what they were doing, or drank 10 cups of coffee that morning. But each day there would be a panic-like buzz. Whispering in the middle of the office, taking one another into meeting rooms. 

      Watching this take place was stressful. The body language created a sense of impending doom. What announcement will they land on us today? What could possibly be that bad all this energy is required? I still ask myself what was so urgent. 

      On the days I worked 12 hours, I had no home life. I couldn’t function or speak, barely ate, and pretty much went straight to bed for not enough hours before the next workday. This isn’t good for anyone’s mental health, especially when you’re contracted to work 7 hours. 

      Bullying 

      I worked in office environments whilst at University. Since then, I’ve unfortunately witnessed bullying. Mainly from managers to employees, but also between employees. Some of it is unconscious bias or someone said, not intending to hurt another individual, but it still happens. 

      I hear all too frequently about managers getting away with treating staff poorly and I’m hoping this is something that will change. 

      Not understanding our work-life balance 

      For years, it’s been quietly expected I will ‘get the job done’. This sometimes meant 12 hour days (I get paid to work 7 hours), working weekends, and doing constant overtime weekly for periods of up to 18 months. 

      A work pattern like this suggests something isn’t working, better organisation and management are required. It takes its toll on staff and I am hoping since the pandemic, it’s something that will be addressed by companies. You don’t have time for life when you’re working 12 hour days, 5 days a week.  

      In my career, generic statements were used to guilt people into working more than they should – statements like:

      you get paid a lot

      we need everyone to chip in and help out

      once we get past this busy period, things will be better

      On the days I worked 12 hours, I had no home life. I couldn’t function or speak, barely ate, and pretty much went straight to bed for not enough hours before the next workday. This isn’t good for anyone’s mental health, especially when you’re contracted to work 7 hours. 

      The clique 

      You’ve probably all experienced this. For me, it’s the ultimate negative aspect of office culture. The manager’s clique or certain employees being favoured because they are friends with managers. 

      I find it so cringe to think about this now! But it impacts employees in offices up and down the country. What about people missing out on opportunities because of this culture?

      It reminds me of mean girls or the cool group at school and everyone else is excluded. Just stop it already!

      Bad management 

      What do they say? Poop rolls downhill in offices. Well, I use the same logic for bad management. 

      If the person at the top doesn’t know what they are doing, is inexperienced, or frankly, they don’t care, it stands to reason that poor decision making will be a factor and generally employees will have a lack of direction. 

      I’ve experienced this on many occasions. This isn’t good for anyone’s mental health. 

      I must also mention I’ve had some amazing, understanding managers as well. The point is, you shouldn’t have to class yourself lucky if you get a good one.

      Culture of being afraid to speak up

      I know many colleagues who have been afraid to speak up on these issues, for fear of being viewed a certain way by colleagues or risk of losing their job. This is unacceptable and I hope office culture changes in this respect.

      Mental health in the workplace

      I think this is a good time to talk about how mental health in the workplace can be improved.

      From what I see, businesses are starting to incorporate mental health training. My hope is that soon, every manager up and down the country will have the same standard of mental health training and companies will adopt separate absence policies for dealing with people who have suffered from poor mental health. Especially when this poor mental health is linked to workplace stress. After already suffering from mental struggles, you don’t need work pressure added to this burden when you return.

      I hope we see change. I am sure you will see me writing about this topic in another future blog post.

      Final thoughts

      Have you experienced negative aspects of office culture? I would love to hear your experiences in the comments?

      Do you think office culture is improving since the pandemic?

      signature

      Tools for managing anxiety

      8 questions I’m asking myself in preparation for gratitude day

      , 31 Comments

      World gratitude day is fast approaching – Tuesday 21 September 2021! In preparation for gratitude day, I’m thinking about all the things I currently do to celebrate life wins.

      I have a daily gratitude journal and I try to spend some time each day reflecting on what I’m grateful for. Admittedly, it can be difficult to do when other things on the to-do list get in the way. 

      However, now more than ever, I understand the benefits of taking time to reflect. 

      Doing something I love and living my purpose through this blog recently, has helped me tremendously. It would be great to turn my passion into a full-time job. Let’s see what the future holds for me. In the meantime, it’s time to put the foundations in place and gradually build upon them.

      Given my mental health struggles over the last few years, which you can read more about in this blog post, I’m planning to use this official day of the year, to not only practice gratitude but to put measures in place to actively process my emotions and learn from my negative experiences. Life throws negative experiences at us each day. The news from around the world can impact us and the pandemic hasn’t helped maintain a good standard of mental health. 

      When life becomes difficult, it’s about managing your reaction to the current circumstances. And also remembering this moment will pass and happier times will come.

      8 questions I'm asking myself in preparation for gratitude day

      Quick note: Mummy Conquering Anxiety is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people.

      As well as preparation for gratitude day, I’m on a mission to fill up my mental health toolkit with a range of options to cope with the bad days. 

      I also plan to adjust my work schedule when applying for a future job role, to ease the pressure of juggling family life and working full time. It’s time to accept this needs to happen.

      Doing something I love and living my purpose through this blog recently, has helped me tremendously. It would be great to turn my passion into a full-time job. You can read more about why I started blogging here. Let’s see what the future holds for me.

      For progress to be made, I have to learn how to process my emotions correctly, as and when they come up. Even if it’s later that day, it’s good practice to start the next day afresh, without carrying baggage from the previous day.

      In the meantime, it’s time to put the foundations in place and gradually build upon them.

      Gratitude day has come at the perfect time and is a great place to begin the final stages of my recovery. Pass me the building blocks…

      gratitude day preparation quote - be grateful

      My strategy

      The foundation for a happier and more fulfilling life surely has to start with a mindset adjustment. These are the points I want to cover:

      • How I think and what impact this has on me
      • Owning my thoughts, realising I create and control them 
      • Practising mindfulness

      For me, these three things must be the basis for real change. 

      For progress to be made, I have to learn how to process my emotions correctly, as and when they come up. Even if it’s later that day, it’s good practice to start the next day afresh, without carrying baggage from the previous day. These are some of the other self-care tools I used to recover from my breakdown.

      In preparation for gratitude day, I’m starting to think about what I’m grateful for and these are the questions I’ve been asking myself over the last few weeks.

      Looking back at yesterday, what was a positive? List all of the ones you can think of. 

      What progress have I made today? List all achievements. 

      What am I thankful for today?

      What can I learn from my negative experiences? 

      What negative emotions did I feel yesterday? 

      How can I prevent these negative emotions tomorrow? 

      If I am in a negative mood, how could my situation be worse? Look on the bright side.

      What tools can I add to my mental health toolkit today? 

      Why I’m choosing mindfulness

      In the past when I’ve heard the term mindfulness: beware of your thoughts, you are what you think, etc I’ve never really understood what it meant. Until you’ve lived through an experience where you literally had no choice but to put these tools in place, I think it can feel a bit like an airy-fairy term a self-help guru would use. But it works… 

      Over the years I’ve used these practices to help with my anxiety levels, but I’ve never put a toolkit in place and used it consistently, even when I am well. As part of my self-care routine moving forward, this will be a daily routine for me. I now have to put measures in place to avoid getting to such a low point mentally in the future.

      This article explains more about mindfulness. Healthline also has some great tips & tricks to try if you’re suffering from anxiety. Headscape is a great app if you are looking to improve your meditation or mindfulness skills.

      Some quotes to give us the inspiration to be more mindful and take time to reflect on what we are grateful for…

      gratitude day preparation quote
      gratitude day preparation quote

      To celebrate gratitude day, why not send a personalised gift, a thank you or a special card in the post…

      Or a special gift, to show someone how much you value them…

      gratitude day preparation quote

      gratitude day preparation quote
      gratitude day preparation quote

      You can read all of my blog posts here…

      https://mummyconqueringanxiety.com/about-me/blog-posts/
      gratitude day preparation quote
      gratitude day preparation quote

      How are you preparing for gratitude day?

      Do you have a plan in place to set aside time to think about what you’re grateful for?

      I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

      Thank you for reading my post today – I hope it has helped you 🙂

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      Mental Health

      7 crucial steps I took to gradually recover from my breakdown

      , 34 Comments

      Recovery from my breakdown was not an easy task. Previously I viewed self-care as selfish. I would be doing something (watching TV in bed or taking a bath) and thinking this is selfish, I need to be doing something more productive. 

      Even in my self-care moments, I was overthinking. Not living in the moment and taking time to recharge, but thinking about the long list of things that needed to be done. Constantly questioning how efficient it was to be taking self-care moments instead of focusing on a more productive task. Madness I know. 

      The pandemic and my breakdown taught me self-care is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. In order to function in life, you have to recharge your batteries, and you must look after yourself. You cannot run on empty and if you try to, you will soon get to breaking point. 

      One day at a time. Suffering from anxiety & depression really is like this. One day you feel not too bad and the next morning, you are back to square one again. You can have a lovely, productive, semi-stress-free morning and it can all turn upside down in the afternoon. It’s a constant battle to heal from rock bottom.

      Quick note: Mummy Conquering Anxiety is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people.

      recover from my breakdown do not believe everything you think

      These are the seven activities that helped pull me out of the fog:

      Lets get started…

      1. Baths

      A long hot soak with my luxury bathing products. This set is amazing. When I was in the midst of anxiety-filled days, this really helped de-stress me, just a little. To settle me down, and ease the worrying for a short period of time.

      It also relaxed me. I was taking a lot of naps at the time, because the anxiety and overthinking constantly, was so draining. Sleeping makes it all go away for a while and is essential to recovery. Whilst I needed to sleep in order to recover, it’s difficult to settle down when your brain is always switched on, and wearing itself out with ridiculous, but very valid thoughts and feelings.

      The bath relaxed me enough to take a nap. To finally switch my mind off for a bit.

      2. Do something outside of your usual routine

      To recover from my breakdown the doctor suggested doing something each day outside my normal routine. Especially because I had gone from working full time to now having to find activities (as well as setting aside time to heal).

      These were some of the things I did:

      • Sitting in the park – watching the world go by, meeting the same dog walkers each day, looking at wildlife, and getting some sunshine. All these things are great for the soul, but I never had time to do them previously (at least that’s what the anxiety told me!)

      This podcast is amazing. I get my daily dose whilst sitting in the sunshine!

      • Walking a different route home – I am usually a habitual person and tend to keep the same consistent routine. Doing a small thing in a different way, retrains your brain to new pathways and ways of viewing the world. Everyday during my recovery, I would walk a different way home, notice different things and feel free for doing one task differently. It was sticking two fingers up to the anxiety, because it previously told me to do things in a certain order
      • Doing tasks in a different order – when cleaning, I made small changes to the routine, even split the cleaning over two days or missed some out (for me this is a BIG thing). My anxiety would usually tell me, all the cleaning must be done now, people are visiting, we can’t have a dirty house – it’s a lot of pressure to live up to. Doing things differently can retrain your thoughts

      Want more useful tips for activities to try…

      Whilst we are on the subject, I have to admit I also get excited by these cleaning products, they smell amazing.

      • Sitting in the sunshine – having mainly office jobs in my career, my time sitting in the sunshine was very limited. It was nice to use a lovely sunny day to recover. It definitely makes you feel better
      • Spending time with friends & family – I had always done this previously, but now they were aware of my situation, as I shared the struggles I’d experienced over many years. This changed the dynamic and allowed people to help me heal. Letting people in does help your recovery, as they start to understand why you behave the way you do and the daily struggles you face
      • Learning – I’ve always loved learning new things. We watch a lot of documentaries in our house & both have degrees (we mainly loved the university lifestyle, meeting people and learning – also the crazy party days!). We still have a passion for learning & exploring. Starting this blog helped me vent and gave me many new learning opportunites

      I love taking free or cheap online courses. These are some of the websites I’ve used in the past:

      Eventbrite – they have free online workshops and if you miss the actual event, they email you the details so you can soak up the information at a later date

      Centre Of Excellence – a range of cheap courses, particularly in areas of self-care and mindfulness

      Daily OM – The beauty of their courses is you can choose an amount to pay. This makes learning affordable for you. The courses are also easy to navigate and interesting to work through

      Future Learn – a range of courses in a wide range of subjects (some are free)

      OpenLearn – this is one I haven’t yet tried, but I have it saved in my favourites. If anyone has done their courses, let me know below

      Writing this blog post has inspired me to finish all those half-done courses!

      Other posts you might like

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      Retrain your brain

      Retraining my brain certainly helped me recover from my breakdown. I’ve worked very hard to replace my negative thoughts with positive ones.

      The science behind neuroplasticity suggests retraining your brain really is a thing! How exciting, we can essentially undo negative behaviours and teach ourselves to do things differently.

      I’ve previously attended training covering neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), mindfulness, and hypnotherapy with this guy and it’s fantastic. Here is the website, have a look at the courses if you want to learn more.

      recover from my breakdown

      3. Walking

      In my past life, I ran two 10k races for charity and several other 5K ones, including wading through mud!

      I raised money for Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Support & Bliss.

      These days I don’t do much running, but walking makes me feel fit & healthy. It also allows me to be out in the fresh air and it clears my mind. During the pandemic, it was difficult to keep up with any sort of walking routine, and I think this had an impact on many people. Doing the nursery drop, walking to the shop, any form of walking will take you out of your head for a little while and make you feel better.

      You can do this…

      Even in those moments when you’re recovering and don’t feel like doing it, try and get out there. Once you do it, you’ll feel a little better.

      Because I was at such a low point, I almost had to force myself. I had a default mindset – doing something must be better than moping around. It can’t get any worse when you’re at rock bottom already.

      Exercise does help mental health and my plan is to maintain some form of exercise regularly every week. I don’t know what that will look like yet, but I am putting plans in place to reduce a relapse (I could be a yoga master in future, who knows – watch this space).

      4. Going out with friends

      The joy of having a girly chat, over wine, with someone who understands and supports you. We all need it. Especially as I am now surrounding myself with positive, like-minded people. These people understanding if I cancel plans last minute or I’m feeling too exhausted.

      These positive connections massively helped me recover from my breakdown and it’s something I intend to continue, however hectic life may get. You have to find time for these essential activities. 

      crucial steps I took to recover from my breakdown recover from my breakdown

      5. Being kind and not judging 

      • Be kind to yourself – since my breakdown, I’ve made a point of thinking positive thoughts and not letting the anxiety self-talk impact me as much (easier said than done sometimes)
      • Be kind to others – I’ve always tried to make time for charity & volunteering and its something I would love to get back into. I am also more open to making connections with random strangers, something I would previously shy away from
      • Don’t judge – other people may look put together from the outside, (my family & friends didn’t even know I had anxiety issues and how severe they were) but everyone is facing their own struggles. Anxiety sometimes makes you judge others, as a defence mechanism –  it’s another irrational aspect of anxiety. Being open to other people is something that helped my recovery. Human beings are built to make connections, not shy away from one another

      6. Positive self-talk

      It really is a thing! When I suffer the impact of high anxiety levels, this usually involves me telling myself negative thoughts over & over again, until they become a reality. Although I have no control over this at the time, you can see how damaging it can be. 

      Focusing on the positive aspects of life and repeating positive mantras, out loud, or in my head has helped. I am consciously not allowing negative, self-doubt thoughts to creep in.

      In all honesty, it isn’t about eliminating these thoughts (I don’t think I will ever achieve this), but recognising when they come along and doing something about it.

      I’ve had this workbook and the I am here now journal for a while now. I love working through these books when I don’t feel great, but I intend to start doing it as part of my weekly routine. I’ve just added this workbook to my Amazon wishlist.

      7. Creativity

      Since starting this blog, I have had something positive to focus on each day. I can create, share, get my thoughts out, and have a goal in mind. All of these aspects are helping my recovery. 

      Recovering from my breakdown isn’t easy and in the early days, I struggled to get anything done. But using my brain creatively has helped me.

      I recently had a discussion about how child-like activities can help adults suffering from mental health conditions. I noticed any activity I did with my little girl, whether it be painting, drawing, making crafts, relaxed me and I would often continue the activity after she got bored and moved on to the next thing. I then wrote a blog post all about it.

      I am still a work in progress and probably always will be!

      Mother and child recover from my breakdown

      Final thoughts 

      I hope you’ve enjoyed reading. If you have, please feel free to leave a comment. If you have any useful tips to recover from a breakdown, please share them below. I would love to hear from you

      mummy conquering anxiety
      Book Corner, Mental Health, Reading

      My Current TBR List and Why Reading Is Helping Me Mentally

      , 23 Comments

      Because I am excited by stories and books again, it was time to dedicate a space on my blog to all things books! Reading is currently helping me mentally. And I wanted to share this passion, in the hope, it might help other people out there.

      You can check out Book Corner because it’s where you will hear about my latest book reviews, what I am currently excited about reading, and any stories that literally knocked my socks off.

      Quick note: Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for you.

      A much-needed break to help me mentally

      If you follow me on Twitter, you will know I am taking a two-week break from blogging in September. Whilst writing and being creative is my passion, I have worked non-stop on this little passion project since July 2021. It’s time to refresh and return better than ever. Because I have so many exciting things in the pipeline.

      Follow me on Goodreads to hear about my reading progress. Whilst I am not sure I will achieve my target for 2022, I hope to make some reading progress during my two-week blogging break. I can’t wait to get lost in these stories and restore my mental well-being.

      Mummy’s books

      Her Last Holiday
      it was amazing
      Her Last Holiday
      by C.L. Taylor
      I’m going all out & saying this is one of the best books I’ve ever read. The pace, the writing, is outstanding. I couldn’t wait to keep turning pages and it’s renewed my eagerness to get through my TBR list!
      My Friend Anna: The True Story of the Fake Heiress Who Conned Me and Half of New York City
      it was amazing
      My Friend Anna: The True Story of the Fake Heiress Who Conned Me and Half of New York City
      by Rachel DeLoache Williams
      Great read, from the real perspective of a person central to the drama. A raw, emotional story of how friendship was used to manipulate someone.
      The Lost Hours
      it was amazing
      The Lost Hours
      by Susan Lewis
      Absolutely amazing! Gripping right from the very beginning. Strong characters and the second half of the book had me constantly turning the pages. I loved the characters and got to know them all very well. Would love to see this as a fil…

      goodreads.com

      Books transporting us to a new destination

      I have been struggling recently, with physical illness, and being run down. This means I’ve taken a hit emotionally and mentally. I am finding that reading allows me to switch off and recover, which I am thankful for. I often read books to get transported to the destination the book is set in. Lately, I need something to bring me out of the fog and reading is helping me mentally.

      helping me mentally

      Let’s dive into my current reading list

      As any book lover will experience, there were many titles on my list to choose from. I managed to narrow it down into a manageable reading list. And put them in an order I was happy with.

      Mental Health books currently helping me mentally

      It is important to me, to read about mental health, as well as write about it on this blog.

      I recently visited the Bradford Literature Festival recently and attend a talk by Horatio Clare, discussing Heavy Light. Reading about mental illness from the perspective of the person is something very interesting to me. As such, I am so eager to read this title. It just had to come top of the pile.

      helping me mentally
      My images from Bradford Literature Festival

      Heavy Light, by Horatio Clare

      I haven’t finished this book yet. But I can say, it is so well written. And I relate to so much of the content. Whilst I haven’t experienced psychosis, I have experienced seeing a situation from a completely different perspective because of my anxiety and depression. During my pregnancy and stay in the hospital, my and my hubby’s accounts of what took place are so different. It’s like talking to people who were in hospitals at opposite ends of the country. Therefore, I can relate to some of what Horatio and his partner experienced. It is a helpful insight into mental illness, and the lack of support for individuals who are unwell. Also a heartbreaking insight into what their families go through.

      “The words with which a breakdown is treated are all medicalised – illness, treatment, nurse, doctor, meds – but the mechanism of treatment belongs to retribution: incarnation, surveillance, behaviour monitoring, parole. For crimes against normality, we get a label and a chemical life sentence. I hate this mechanism. I refuse to believe in it.”
      ― Horatio Clare, Heavy Light: A Journey Through Madness, Mania and Healing

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      The Power Of Letters

      If you follow my blog, you will know a letter I wrote was published in an anthology. The proceeds of the book went to the Prince’s Trust and the letters are designed to give the youth of today hope that things can get better. I was honoured to be part of this project.

      I can’t wait to read the other amazing letters featured. However, with how I have been feeling recently, I think waiting for a little would be better for me mentally.

      Want access to my freebie library? Click the button below

      I want some freebies

      The Psychopath Inside

      This was a recommendation I picked up and I am so excited to see what it is all about. I feel like this book will contribute to helping me mentally. And will also tie in with the work I am doing in my hypnotherapy course, which helps me to understand how the brain works.

      More about the book – From Amazon

      The Psychopath Inside, tells the fascinating story of Fallon’s reaction to the discovery that he has the brain of a psychopath. While researching serial murderers, he uncovered a distinct neurological pattern in their brain scans that helped explain their cold and violent behaviour. A few months later he learned that he was descended from a family with a long line of murderers which confirmed that Fallon’s own brain pattern wasn’t a fluke.

      As a scientist convinced that humans are shaped by their genetics, Fallon set out to reconcile the truth about his brain with everything he knew about the mind, behaviour, and the influence of nature vs. nurture on our personalities. How could he, a successful scientist and a happy family man with no history of violence, be a psychopath? How much did his biology influence his behaviour? Was he capable of some of the gruesome atrocities perpetrated by the serial killers he had studied?

      Combining his personal experience with scientific analysis, Fallon shares his journey and the discoveries that ultimately led him to understand that, despite everything, science can teach us, humans are even more complex than we can imagine.

      The Man Who Died Twice, By Richard Osman

      I know this title is part of a series. But having read the reviews, I have decided to read this one as a stand-alone book. We all have different preferences when reading and personally, I want titles which have great reviews, otherwise, I simply won’t finish them. This book sounds like the best one in the series. Obviously, I can’t pass judgment until I’ve read it. Sign up to be alerted each time a blog post is released, and you can catch up with the review when I finish it.

      helping me mentally

      The Girls, By Lisa Jewell

      Getting lost in a book is helping me mentally. I love nothing more than a thriller, or crime drama. Therefore, naturally, it is the type of book I love reading.

      A bit more information (courtesy of Wob)

      Dark secrets, a devastating mystery and the games people play: the gripping new novel from the bestselling author of The House We Grew Up In and The Third Wife.

      You live on a picturesque communal garden square, an oasis in urban London where your children run free, in and out of other people’s houses.

      You’ve known your neighbours for years and you trust them. Implicitly.

      You think your children are safe.

      But are they really?

      Midsummer night: a thirteen-year-old girl is found unconscious in a dark corner of the garden square. What really happened to her? And who is responsible?

      Utterly believable characters, a gripping story and a dark secret buried at its core: this is Lisa Jewell at her heart-stopping best.

      The Thursday Murder Club, By Richard Osman

      I have decided to add this to my list, but whether I read it or not will be very much based on how I like the other one in the series. I realise it sounds a bit quirky to read the titles in this order, but I love doing things my own way and this feels right. If I like the first title, it will be like watching the series and then the prequel.

      A Thousand Moons, By Sebastian Barry

      This is another title, which is technically a series, but can be treated as a stand-alone book. I can’t wait to read this one. I love high-quality writing. And the reviews suggest I won’t be disappointed with this one.

      A Thousand Moons skips forward a few years from Days Without End and although it’s in effect a sequel, the novel stands alone, wasting no time with backstory as it launches into its typically rollicking tale.

      The Guardian

      More about the book –

      Even when you come out of bloodshed and disaster in the end you have got to learn to live.

      Winona is a young Lakota orphan adopted by former soldiers Thomas McNulty and John Cole.
      Living with Thomas and John on the farm they work in 1870s Tennessee, she is educated and loved, forging a life for herself beyond the violence and dispossession of her past. But the fragile harmony of her unlikely family unit, in the aftermath of the Civil War, is soon threatened by a further traumatic event, one which Winona struggles to confront, let alone understand.

      Told in Sebastian Barry’s rare and masterly prose, A Thousand Moons is a powerful, moving study of one woman’s journey, her determination to write her own future, and the enduring human capacity for love. (courtesy of Amazon).

      ‘Nobody writes like, nobody takes lyrical risks like, nobody pushes the language, and the heart, and the two together, quite like Sebastian Barry does.’ ALI SMITH

      Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

      My hubby has been nagging me for years to get the full Harry Potter series and read it. He is aware I love the description and imagination in a book, much more than in a film. Up to now, I have been reluctant. But I will be giving this a go and see what happens. And whether I then want to read the rest of the books. Stay tuned on the blog and also on Twitter.

      Final thoughts

      I have so many titles on my bookshelf and I intend to continue my reading journey, with another Goodreads challenge in 2023. Stay tuned to the blog, on Book Corner for more of my current reading lists.

      helping me mentally

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